Man’s best friends

It’s obvious that Cal Meeder loves his two Weimaraners, Luke and Clyde.
Each dog has his own Sonicare toothbrush and a health insurance policy. Their nails are regularly trimmed. They get a bath every two weeks, whether they need it or not. They have a dog walker who takes the pair on daily two-hour play dates. Meeder has a dresser drawer set aside exclusively for costumes for Luke and Clyde, some of which have feather boas and pink tutus.
So it’s seemed only natural that Meeder would opt to have cosmetic surgery for his dogs.

On Monday, Meeder came home early from work to walk the dogs himself. He wanted to throw a tennis ball for his younger dog one last time before a scheduled operation the next morning.
At 7 a.m., he took Luke to the Pacifica Pet Hospital to be neutered. The dog’s testicles were removed and were replaced with a pair of artificial implants called Neuticles.

***
“It kind of boils down to the extreme pet owner — the pet owner who looks at the dog or the cat as a member of the family. Their pet gets the very best,” said Gregg Miller, who invented the Neuticle prosthetic almost two decades ago for a beloved bloodhound — a flappy-jowled beast named Buck who needed to be neutered.
Neuticles, Miller figured, would ease the nagging guilt that tugs at some people when they bring in their cat or dog for the surgery that Luke underwent.
“It’s a wonderful option for the ‘neuter-hesitant’ pet owner,” said Miller, who touts sales of 500,000 implants since he started his company in Oak Park, Mo.
Kim Kardashian’s family dog, Rocky, was a recipient of a set of medium-sized “Neuticle Originals” about two years ago. It all played out in an episode of “Keeping Up With the Kardashians,” which featured Rocky the self-confident, post-op boxer strutting confidently out of the vet’s office. Bruce Jenner couldn’t help but make jokes as they walked away.
***
Meeder is a 55-year-old director of design and construction at a San Francisco commercial real estate firm, who will be happy to show you the urinal he just had installed in his bathroom or the African mountain goat head that hangs above his stairwell. He’s no newbie to the Neuticle concept. Luke is the third dog he’s had this done to.
Clyde, now 10, was the first.
“Nine years ago I thought … for $40, let the poor dog keep his dignity,” Meeder said. “I’m sure part of it was just because I wanted to be different and heck — why not. I thought it was fun.”
He carries a key chain with a single, kidney-shaped Neuticle that he received from Miller for being such a good customer.
Prices have changed, and now a pair of Neuticle Originals — made from a hard, plastic-like material — starts at just over $100. More ?anatomically correct implants run north of $500. Miller says his products are made in America, in factories that also make implants of all types for humans.
***
With 1-year-old Luke, Meeder decided to splurge. He chose a large, squishy pair called the “Neuticle Plus,” made of solid silicone, which left him with a $300 hole in his pocket. He’s got no regrets.
“They look great,” Meeder said. “They look just like they did before they came out.”
When his dogs run leash-free at Dolores Park, Meeder is often asked if he knows about the spay and neuter law in San Francisco. Meeder does, and thinks it’s a good law that helps keep unwanted animals from ending up in shelters.
“When you tell them that the dog has Neuticles … you’d be surprised how many people will come up and ask, ‘Can I feel them?’ ” Meeder said.
His usual response: “You’ll have to ask the dog.”

Photo: Mike Kepka / The Chronicle

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Cal Meeder poses his 1-year-old weimaraner, Luke, in a whimsical outfit on the evening before the dog was scheduled to receive a pair of testicle implants called Neuticles. "I'm sure part of it was just because I wanted to be different and heck why not. I thought it was fun," said Meeder. less

Cal Meeder poses his 1-year-old weimaraner, Luke, in a whimsical outfit on the evening before the dog was scheduled to receive a pair of testicle implants called Neuticles. "I'm sure part of it was just ... more

Photo: Mike Kepka / The Chronicle

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Cal Meeder shows of a life-size Neuticle key chain he received from the manufacturer for being a repeat customer.

Cal Meeder shows of a life-size Neuticle key chain he received from the manufacturer for being a repeat customer.

Photo: Mike Kepka / The Chronicle

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Cal Meeder's 1-year-old weimaraner, Luke, plays at home on the night before he is to receive Neuticles.

Cal Meeder's 1-year-old weimaraner, Luke, plays at home on the night before he is to receive Neuticles.

Photo: Mike Kepka / The Chronicle

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Cal Meeder commands attention from his weimaraners, Clyde and Luke at his home in San Francisco. Clyde received testicle implants called Neuticles 9 years ago and Luke was set to get his soon.

Cal Meeder commands attention from his weimaraners, Clyde and Luke at his home in San Francisco. Clyde received testicle implants called Neuticles 9 years ago and Luke was set to get his soon.

Photo: Mike Kepka / The Chronicle

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Cal Meeder takes his weimaraners, Luke and Clyde out to play in San Francisco's Dolores Park.

Cal Meeder takes his weimaraners, Luke and Clyde out to play in San Francisco's Dolores Park.

Photo: Mike Kepka / The Chronicle

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Cal Meeder prepares to take his weimaraners, Clyde and Luke off-leash for a romp in San Francisco's Dolores Park.

Cal Meeder prepares to take his weimaraners, Clyde and Luke off-leash for a romp in San Francisco's Dolores Park.

Photo: Mike Kepka / The Chronicle

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On the night before a scheduled surgery to implant testicle implants for his dog, Cal Meeder takes his 1-year-old weimaraner, Luke, to San Francisco's Dolores Park.

On the night before a scheduled surgery to implant testicle implants for his dog, Cal Meeder takes his 1-year-old weimaraner, Luke, to San Francisco's Dolores Park.

Photo: Mike Kepka / The Chronicle

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Cal Meeder leads his weimaraner, Clyde, who received a pair of Neuticles 9 years ago, to San Francisco's Dolores Park.

Cal Meeder leads his weimaraner, Clyde, who received a pair of Neuticles 9 years ago, to San Francisco's Dolores Park.

Photo: Mike Kepka / The Chronicle

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Cal Meeder commands attention from his weimaraners, Clyde and Luke in San Francisco's Dolores Park. Clyde received testicle implants called Neuticles 9 years ago and Luke was set to get his soon.

Cal Meeder commands attention from his weimaraners, Clyde and Luke in San Francisco's Dolores Park. Clyde received testicle implants called Neuticles 9 years ago and Luke was set to get his soon.

Photo: Mike Kepka / The Chronicle

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Cal Meeder commands attention from his weimaraners, Clyde and Luke in San Francisco's Dolores Park. Clyde received testicle implants called Neuticles 9 years ago and Luke was set to get his soon.

Cal Meeder commands attention from his weimaraners, Clyde and Luke in San Francisco's Dolores Park. Clyde received testicle implants called Neuticles 9 years ago and Luke was set to get his soon.

Photo: Mike Kepka / The Chronicle

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"They are like my kids," said Cal Meeder in San Francisco.

"They are like my kids," said Cal Meeder in San Francisco.

Photo: Mike Kepka / The Chronicle

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Cal Meeder poses his 1-year-old weimaraner, Luke, in a whimsical outfit on the evening before the dog was scheduled to receive a pair of testicle implants called Neuticles. "I'm sure part of it was just because I wanted to be different and heck why not. I thought it was fun," said Meeder. less

Cal Meeder poses his 1-year-old weimaraner, Luke, in a whimsical outfit on the evening before the dog was scheduled to receive a pair of testicle implants called Neuticles. "I'm sure part of it was just ... more